New Época, MFA Thesis

Develop an MFA thesis by defining a problem, distilling information, and creating a solution through a graphic design approach. The design solution will successfully reach its intended audience on multiple levels and across multiple design platforms.

The Solution

During my exploration of Cuba's distinctive economy and vibrant creative community, I discovered a significant lack of awareness among most Americans regarding the dynamic relationship between the two countries and the untapped potential of Cuba's artistic community. To address this issue, I initiated the establishment of a community called New Época, a dedicated company or initiative that aims to spotlight and nurture the undiscovered art community in Cuba. Through the quarterly magazine published by New Época, we actively showcase and promote talented artists, fostering collaborations with Cuban artists and designers to generate revenue. Simultaneously, our informative website serves as a platform for disseminating valuable information about the Cuban art scene.

The Deliverables

Bespoke Product Line,
Quarterly Art Magazine,

Advisors

Hunter Wimmer & Phil Hamlet
2016

Pink background with the bold black text 'NEW ÉPOCA'.
A black geometric design of a butterfly or insect over a triangle and circle, with the text 'NEW ÉPOCA' below on a pink background.
Text reading 'New Época' on a textured background with abstract black shapes.
Yellow background with a black diamond pattern and a black outlined rectangle containing the text 'NEW ÉPOCA' in bold black letters.
Eight black line art logos with botanical and geometric designs arranged in two rows on a green background.
Open sketchbooks with black ink illustrations and doodles, including trees, leaves, and abstract designs, on a red background.
Color palette with six vertical color swatches labeled from left to right as Dark Pink, Mute Pink, Seafoam, Bold Yellow, Black, and Soft Blue. Each swatch has corresponding CMYK and RGB color codes listed below.
A black-and-white photo of a group of people standing outdoors near a fence, with tall palm trees in the background. A woman is waving and smiling at the camera. On the right, there is a color image of a girl in a pink shirt and black shoes standing at a doorway with yellow and blue walls.
Close-up of a brown paper label on a bottle of Dark Rum. The label indicates it is a triple distilled dark rum from Cuba, made with organic cane sugar, and handcrafted.
Four colorful rectangular coffee tins in teal, red, blue, and yellow with black caps, arranged in a row, each labeled 'NEW ÉPOCA CUBAN ESPRESSO Ground Bean Coffee' with various details about the product.
A black box labeled "New Epoca" with vintage artwork and cigar information, a laser pointer, and a USB drive on a plain white surface.
A scrapbook with four pages. The first page shows mounted photographs and handwritten notes, the second page has international stamps and handwritten travel details, the third features a woman standing outside a building with a bright yellow door, and the fourth page has a table of contents on a pink background.
Stack of magazines with the title "New Epoca" and a cover photo of a street scene in Cuba, with overlaid red and black text about meeting neighbors again.
A collage of multiple magazine pages featuring various themes including art, culture, and personal stories, with colorful text, photographs, and graphic designs.
Open magazine or booklet featuring a quote about leaders, a large image of a person, a timeline of historical events related to Cuba, and smaller images of documents and a handwritten note.
A senior woman with dark skin, wearing a white shirt, colorful beaded necklaces, and red flowers in her hair, holding a cigar in her mouth.